Kenneth E. Harker
2008 Korea - Deoksugung

Deoksugung is one of the five royal grand palaces of Seoul. The palace was originally built in the sixteenth century for King Seongjong's elder brother, Prince Wolsan. Renamed Gyeongungung, it became the primary royal palace after Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung were burned to the ground by the Japanese in 1592. In 1618, when the royal household moved to a rebuilt Changdeokgung, this palace was renamed Seogung. The 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Gojong, moved into the palace in 1897, where he proclaimed the Great Korean Empire in an effort to assert the nation's independence from China, Japan, and Russia. However, rather than actually strengthening the nation's military, Emperor Gojong (1852-1919) would instead spend much of his time and energy renovating and expanding this palace. He resided here until abdication to his son, Emperor Sunjong, in 1907, when the palace was renamed Doeksugung. When the Japanese occupation began in 1910, Emperor Gojong was placed under house arrest in Doeksugung, where he eventually died in 1919.

These photos are copyright © 2008 Kenneth E. Harker. All rights reserved.

	Junghwajeon, the throne hall of Deoksugung Palace. The building burned during the great fire of 1904, and was completely rebuilt in 1906.
	The court stones in the courtyard indicate where each civil and military official of the court was to stand during official ceremonies.
	Ken and Jen, standing in front of Junghwajeon.
	A stone lion in a staircase on Junghwajeon.
	The royal throne inside Junghwajeon. Behind the throne is a screen painting that features five mountain peaks, the sun, and the moon. The painting reinforces the idea that the king is central to the connections between the heaven and the earth and creating a balanced universe.
	Gilt dragons in the roof above the throne in Junghwajeon.
	Screens on the windows of Junghwajeon.
	The back side of Junghwajeon.
	Junmyeongdang on the left and Jeukjodang on the right. Junmyeongdang was used as a kindergarten for Princess Deokhye (1912-1989). Both buildings were destroyed in a fire in 1904 and rebuilt by Emperor Gojong.
	Seogeodang was the only two story building in Doeksugung Palace until the construction of Seokjojeon. The original Seogeodang building was used as the residence of King Seonjo (1552-1608, reigned 1567-1608) for 16 years following the Japanese invasion of 1592. It is one of the least decorated building in any Korean royal palace, and was intentionally kept that way to remind the kings of the sacrifices suffered by King Seonjo.
	Deokhongjeon was used as a reception hall for guests of the royal household. Like many other buildings, it burned in 1904 and was only rebuilt in 1911.
	A gate in one of the interior walls inside Deoksugung Palace.
	Details on ceiling tiles and support beams above a gate inside the palace.
	A gnarled old tree.
	Chimneys that vent the underfloor ondol house heating systems in the palace buildings.
	Hamnyeongjeon, the building where Emperor Gojong lived until his death in 1919. Unlike most traditional Korean buildings, Hamnyeongjeon was L-shaped. Like most of the other palace buildings, it was burned in the 1904 fire and rebuilt soon after.
	Seokjojeon is a large, three-story stone building built in a western style by Emperor Gojong and used to receive foreign envoys. Construction on the building began in 1900 and was completed in 1909.
	Following liberation from the Japanese in 1945, Seokjojeon was used by the US-USSR Joint Commission before the country's partition into two separate governments. The building was later was used to house both the National Museum and then the Royal Museum before they were moved to other locations. Today, it houses government records offices and is not open to the public.
	Jen, standing in front of the large fountain before Seokjojeon. Behind her is the downtown Seoul skyline.
	These are the remnants of Borugak Jagyeongnu, one of the world's oldest water clocks. Water flowed from basin to basin in such a precise way as to be able to strike a bell on the hour. It was built in 1434 during the reign of King Sejong (1397-1450, reigned 1418-1450), and was fine-tuned in 1536 during the reign of King Jungjong (1488-1544, reigned 1506-1544). The water clock was used at night, when sundials were not available.
	This large bell was originally in the Heungcheonsa Temple in Seoul, one of the temples favored by Joseon Dynasty royalty, and was used in Buddhist religious ceremonies. The bell was cast in 1462.
	The Singijeon carriage is the world's oldest multi-rocket launcher for which original schematics remain intact. Each tube in the carriage could launch a rocket, and all the rockets were launched at the same time. The first Singijeon was made by Choe Museon in 1377, who independently invented gunpowder from indigenous materials after being frustrated by efforts of the Chinese to keep it a secret.
	At noon, the palace has a changing of the guards ceremony at Daehanmun Gate.
	Ceremonial palace guards just inside Daehanmun, the main gate into Doeksugung Palace.
	The weapons these guards are carrying are probably not very dangerous.
	A traditional martial band is marching across the wide sidewalk in front of the gate. Across the street is Seoul Plaza, and in the background are some of the modern office buildings of downtown Seoul.
	The band, marching by a Dunkin' Donuts store.
	More guards marching by the local donut shop.